Color blend proportion indicating device



c. JOHNSON 3,184,864

COLOR BLEND PROPORTION INDICATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l I May 25, 1965 Filed Dec. 17, 1962 Ami o? Locod-inq pofini' Second be used n co\or co\or \ndex whed I Clarence Johnson 1N VEN TOR.

a y 25, 1955 c. JOHNSON 3,184,864

COLOR BLEND PROPORTION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Clarence Johnson IN VEN TOR.

BY MMF% y 1965 c. JOHNSON 3,184,864

COLOR BLEND PROPORTION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet :s

28 Fig. 4 I /0 /4 30 Clarence Johnson 1N VEN TOR United States Patent 3,184,864 COLOR BLEND PRUPORTION INDICATING DEVICE Clarence Johnson, Milford, Mich. (1343 Milford Road, Highland, Mich.) Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 245,000 1 Claim. (Cl. 3528.3)

The present invention generally relates to the blending of colors and/or color producing materials and more particularly to a device for effectively indicating the actual shade or color which will result from a mixing of specific amounts of two or more shades or colors without the necessity of actually mixing these shades, colors or materials.

As will be appreciated, situations frequently arise in painting of all types wherein the obtaining of a shade or color not available is either necessary or desired and would require the blending of two or more colors. In the past, it has been necessary to arrive at the desired shade or color by actual experimentation, that is an actual mixing of different proportions of the dillerent colors. However, with the present invention, it is now possible to obtain a true indication of the color which will result from a mixing of selected proportions of other colors without the necessity of actually mixing the colors. This is to be accomplished by mounting various color segments, containing the colors to be mixed in the proportions desired, in a predetermined pattern on a wheel or disc with the wheel or disc being subsequently rotated at a speed so as to effect a visual blending of the colors with the blended colors assuming the shade or color which would result from an actual blending of these colors, thus quickly and with little effort advising the user of the device of the proportions needed to be actually blended thus avoiding any undesirable necessity of experimenting with the actual paints.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device for quickly finding the proportion of each color or color producing material or pigment necessary to arrive at a desired color.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy though simple device to ascertain the desired proportions.

Likewise, the present invention contemplates the use of a plurality of arcuate color segments with the segments containing the colors to be blended or representing proportionate quantities of color producing materials to be blended, the blending being accomplished by arranging the segments in a predetermined pattern on a wheel and subsequently spinning the wheel so as to effect a visual blending .of the colors or color producing material.

Additionally, an object of the present invention is to provide a device wherein a substantially unlimited range of different shades can be easily arrived at with the exact proportion of each color needed to attain the shade being readily ascertainablei Likewise, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for indicating color blend proportions which can be used by those having little or no knowledge of color blending withthe desired color being obtained experimentally in a manner which requires no actual mixing of pigments or paints or color producing materials, thus avoiding any accidental mixing of the Wrong proportions.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the Patented May 25, 1965 accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the mixing or index wheel comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with a plurality of color segments arranged on the wheel with the segments being arranged so as to divide the ring into seven equal parts;

FIGURE 3 is another view similar to FIGURE 1 with the color segments being arranged thereon so as to divide the wheel into eleven equal parts;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View through the index wheel having the color segments positioned thereon;

FIGURE 5 is a view of one of the color segments; and

FIGURE 6 and 6-A illustrate a chart which is used to indicate which locating points are to be used for various proportions of two shades or colors or color producing materials.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates the color blend proportion indicating device. The device 10 includes both a circular disc or mixing wheel 12 and a plurality of colored segments 14 to be mounted thereon.

The circular disc 12, preferably made of clear plastic, has a substantially flat upper surface 16 with an open central portion 18 crossed by spokes 20 forming an enlarged hub 22 which in turn has a boss 24 projecting downwardly from the bottom surface thereof. This enlarged boss 24 and the vertical hole 26 therethrough are provided so as to facilitate a rapid-spinning of the wheel 12 in a conventional manner for purposes which shall be pointed out presently. I

Provided on the upper surface 16 peripherally about the open central portion 18 is an unwardly projecting stabilizing ring or rib 28 which is intended to function both as a means for facilitating the location of the color segments 14 on the disc 12 and to also assist in the stabilization of these segments 14.

It is intended that the color segments be evenly spaced about the wheel 12 with the inner arcuate edge 30 abutting against the raised ring 28 and with the lower surface of the segments 14 resting on the portion of the upper surface 16 of the disc outwardly of the ring 28, this portion of the upper surface 16 also being referred to as the shoulder 32.

In the placing of the color segments 14 about the wheel 12 it is essential that they be properly located so as to insure a true visual blending of the colors, and accordingly, a series of index lines 34 are provided on the ring 28, each index line 34 having'one or more index numbers 36. These index numbers 36, ranging from 2 to 12, arranged about the wheel 12 so as to divide the wheel into a corresponding number of portions, that is the 2s are located so as to divide the wheel into two equal parts, the 3s are located so as to divide the wheel into three equal parts, and so on all the way up to the numbers 12 which divide the wheel into twelve equal parts. As will be appreciated from FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, such an arrangement necessitates, in some instances, the provision of more than one index number 36 with a single location or indexline34. Further, while the wheel has been illustrated as being proportioned in from two to twelve portions as the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not specifically intended to be so limited with the use of a lesser or greater number also being contemplated.

Positioned outwardly from the ring 28 are a plurality of locating holes 38 through the shoulder 32 with each locating hole 38 corresponding to an index line 34. With attention being specifically directed to FIGURE 4, it

will be noted that the wheel 12, at the outer portion of the shoulder 32, is provided with a depending rigiditying rib 40, the locating holes 38 extending therethrough.

The locating holes 38 are specifically provided so as to secure'the color segments 14 tothe wheel 12 with the segments 14 having 21 depending tab 42 thereon which is of a size so as to be received Within a locating hole V this. slot 46 being circumferentially aligned with the. locating holes 38 upon the segment 14 being positioned I on the shoulder 32, thus enabling. the access to the holes 38 by the tab 42 of an adjacent segment 14, this being especially essential when the wheel is being divided into a fairly large number of portions. It will be noted from v FIGURES 2 and 3 that the color segments 14 are arranged so as to overlap the slotted end of an adjoining segment 14, such an overlapping, in some instances, possibly not concealing the entire slot 46.

As mentioned supra, it is essential to good color blending that the color segments be arranged about the wheel 12 in a manner so as to expose equal portions of each segment 14. Accordingly, a guide chart 48, illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 6-A, is provided with the chart'setting forth the proper locating holes'or points 38' to be used ing is also avoided. Thesignificant advantages of the invention are accomplished by the use of a circular disc having an upstanding annular stabilizing ring surrounded by an outwardly extending flatshoulder with the arcuate color segments being positioned on the shoulder about the ring at their predetermined points defined by holes for the reception of the segment tabs with these holes corresponding to index lines and index numbers provided on the annular ring. For purposes of convenience a handy chart is also provided so as to immediately ascertain the proper locating points or holes to be used. Further, in reference to this chart, it will be noted that in those instances where the .color segments are to be provided in a one to one ratio, three segments of each color are to be used with the segments being located in the locating holes corresponding to the index number 6. I

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications. and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art,-it is not-desired .to limitthe invention to the exact construction andoperation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A color blend proportion indicating device consisting:

of a circular wheel, a raised circular rib projecting from one side thereof, said side. being substantially fiat aside from said rib, said rib being spaced inwardly from the when blending predetermined portions of two colors, for

example, when blending seven portions of a first color and five portions of a second color the seven segments- 14 of one color and the five segments 14 of the other color are to be each located with the tabs 42 thereon projecting through a locating hole 38 corresponding to the index number 12, the segments 14 of both colors being alternated as much as possible, thus providing a smooth blending of the colors upon a rapid rotation of the wheel. It will be appreciated that if the-7 and 5 blend does not produce the desired shade or tone, an-

othernblend such as 6 of a first color and 5 of the second color can be tried. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the resulting blend from the 7 and 5 mixture can be actually mixed with the blended color constituting a first color for blending with a newsecond color, thus resulting in being able to obtain an almost unlimited range of shades and colors. I 7

While not specifically set forth, it will be appreciated that the segments 14 are to be constructed of any suitable material either having the colors impregnated therein'or painted thereon.

From the foregoing, the significance of thepresent invention is considered to be readily apparent. By the provision of a relatively simple device having a-prede.-.

or color producing materials representedby thesecolor segments, itbeing possible to obtain an almost unlimited range of shades andftones while avoiding the tedious task of actually physicallymixing or blending the colors. It will be appreciated thatthe waste resulting from the useof improper proportions of the colors in actual mixperiphery of said wheel so as to form a circular supporting shoulder, and a plurality of segments positioned on said shoulder about said wheel, said segments being arcuate in shape and conforming. to the circular shoulder, the inner edge. of each segment being engaged against the rib, indicia on=said .wheel, said .indicia being located so as tov proportion said shoulder into a plurality of separate the portions of each group forming a circular pattern,

the number of segments used determiningthe group to be used, a plurality of mounting and locating holes through the shoulder, one .hole correspondingto each indicium, a single depending tab' fixed to each segment and received within a predetermined one of said holes, the segments each being of a length equal to or greater than the length of the equal length portions of the group which includes the next greater. number of portions than the largest group which contains portions which when halved will be no smaller in length than'the length of the portions of the largest group of the plurality of groups, said segments being of a length equal to or less than the length of theequal length portions of the, smallest group, said segments being overlapped, in the formation of any group having portions. of a difierent length than the segments. a

References Cited by mamas UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,810 4/23 Bower 35'28.3 2,337,978 12/43 Donovan; ...46-49 2,570,806 10/51 Henry; .35--26 4/89 Goodwin et a1. 404-34 

